Bumper for automobiles



1,702,744 G. NIGRO BUMPER FOR 'AUTOMOBILES F11 Jul 2 sheets-sheet Feb. 19, 1929.

SSM

Feb. 19, 1929. v 1,702,744

G. NIGRO B UMPER FOR AUTOMOBILES A Filed July 28, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 19, 1929'. n

y UNiT-ESD :STATES GAETANO meno, or'V TrroMrsoNvILLE, coNNE'GrIc-U'r.

vBrianna non AUTOMOBILES.

i `Application filedfmyas, 1927. smal No. 209,149.

My invention relates to improvements in appliances applicable:tolautomobiles for the purpose ot receiving impacts and protecting other parts of the machines from the torce thereof, in the eventof yhead-on collisiens, .and consists generally ot a duplex bumper, or a bumper comprising primary and secondary, yieldingor spring-pressed elements, slidingly arranged in casingsV r'1gidly attached to the chassis ot anl automobile, and safety mechanisms .or devices for setting the brakes off the machine, and vicutting out the ignition :and shutting off the ucl supplyfrom the engine, and` alsov forV releasing sand in front off-the rear wheels of said machine which devicesl have operating partscapable of being actuated by said primary element, and include or Vhave associatedftherewith resetting means, the sanding devices being capable of operation byhand aswell as by said primary element,together with such other part-s and membersas may be necessary or desirable inorder to render the bumper complete and serviceable in every respect, all as hereinaftergset forth.

This invention is in the nature of an imy provenient of the bumper covered'by Letters Patent of the United 'States` No. 1,621,997, issued to.` me March 22, 1927.

The safety devices mentioned above' ymay be omitted without affecting in any way the eiciency' ot the duplex` bumper as yan impact-receiving element; prefer to add said 'devices and thereby utilize certain inherent characteristics of thev action of the one of thebumper. elements, which lotherwise would be lost or wasted, to the end that a much `greater degree ot safety and security orfprotection is obtained from damage and danger;

A single yielding rbumper element is open to objection, for the reason'that the springs therefor are of suliicient rstrength to with-H stand va severe shock, and so strongv as not to yield under Valight shock,l on the one hand, and, it weak enough to `yield when the bumper element is subjectedto a comparatively light impact, are not'strong enough to afford protection" when the imn pact is heavy, on the otherhand. vOne object or my invention is, therefore, to over-` come these diliiculties, and produce a bumper which is effective and' etlicient under any and all kinds v.of shocks and impacts, thus preventing `breakage andv damage or .reducing them to a minimum, and absorbing in nevertheless, I y

great measure, .if not entirely, the and jar ot collision.

Another yobject is to providepin connection with such a bumper, means for Aautomatically vsetting the brakes and stopping the engine of ythe automobile, in the Aevent anobject is ,struck by the rimary bumper element and .the force of t e blow actuates said elementfrearwardly. V

`A further object is to provide,y in connec-l tion with a bumper of theV class described, means for automatically discharging lsand onto the ground in front of the .rear wheels of the vehicle, so that said Wheels are pre vented yfrom slipping or slidingV on the road when the brakes `are set, and to pro-A 91,702,744y PATENT o1-#Fica i vide such means as can be operated by hand,

if desired or necessary.

Still another vobject is tofu'rnish adequate means for resetting the safetydevices, after theyvhave .been operated by the .primary bumper element, the resetting meanstor :the brake, ignitionf, and fuel-operating Vdevices preferably being so arranged andy located as to necessitate the driver leaving the car in order to actuate said resettingqme'ans,"

becauseuan additional element of sate'tyis thus added, and incidentally tends to. prevent him from leaving the scene of an .accident before the number of his machine .can

be taken and his name obtained.V l v `My appliance is comparatively simple and inexpensive, and can readily be attached to the chassis .of anrautomobile. l j.

Other objects *and4 advantages will appear voof' in the course of the following description. y

Iattain the objects and'secure the advantages of my `invention by the fmeans illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

j in which;

Figure 1 is atop plan, with parts broken away and in section, kot an appliance which embodies ia practical `form ot my invention,

and of a 'chassis and other parts of an auto.-

mobile to which said appliance is `attached and with which vthe same is associated; Fig. 2, a longitudinal, vertical section 'through fthe* parts .and members of said Yappl'iancejon one side; Fig. 3, a .detail in the left-hand bumper members, taken on lines 5, looking in the direction of the associated arrow, in Fig. 2, and, Fig. 6, a cross section through the sand box on the left-hand side of the machine, taken on lines 6-6 looking in the direction of the associated arrow, in Fig. 2.

Similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout the several views.

At 1-1 are shown the side beams of an automobile chassis, which beams, in the` present example, consist of channel-irons arranged with their flanges on adjacent sides.

Secured against the outer side of each beam 1 by any suitable means, such as bolts 2 and nuts 3, is a casing 7 comprising longer and shorter parts, the shorter part being on the outer side. In the outer side of the aforesaid short part of the casing 7, in the longitudinal center, is a slot 8. Longitudinal passages 9 and 10 extend through the casing 7, the passage 9 being in the longer part and the passage 10 in the shorter part thereof. A perforated cap 11 isV secured over the rear end of the longer part, and a perforated cap 12 is secured over the rear end of the shorter part, of the casing. Mounted on and secured to the shorter part of the casing, over the slot 8 therein, is a housing 13, and mounted on and secured to that portion of said casing which extends back of said shorter portion, on theouter side thereof, is a housing 14. The cap 11 closes the rear ends of the longer part of the casing 7 and the housing 14, and the cap 12 closes the rear ends of the shorter part of said casing and the housing 13. The front end of the casing 7' and housing 13 are closed by means of a perforated capplate 15 which is preferably made of rubber. rllhe cap-plate 15 is suitably secured to the casing and housing. Projecting from the outer side of the shorter part of the casingV 7, alternately above and below the slot 8 therein, are pins 16.

A cross-bar 17 is rigidly attached to the front ends of two plungers 18 which are slidingly arranged in the inner, longer parsages 9 in the casings 7, such plungers passing through the two of the Vperforations in the cap-plates 15 at the forward ends of said casings, and having projections or tailpieces 19 and 20, respectively, at their rear terminals. The tail-pieces 19 and 2O extend through the perforations in the caps 11. rlhe tail-piece 19, which is on the righthand side of the chassis, may have a transverse pin 21 passed therethrough, behind the cap 11 on that side, to contact with said cap and thereby limit the forward movement of the rightehand plunger 18. lThere are longitudinal slots 22 in the outer sides of the housings 14, and pins 23 extend outwardly from the plungers 18 through said plungers with the cross-bar 17 in advanced j position.

The spring pressed plungers 18, with their cross-bar 17, make up 'the primary yielding bumper element. The secondary, yielding, bumper element comprises a cross-bar 25 and two spring-pressed plungers 26 outside of the plungers 18.

The plungers 26 are slidingly arranged in the outer, shorter passages 10 in the casings 7, extend through the outer two perforations in the ycap -plates 15,-and have projections or tail-pieces 27 at their rear terminals that extend through the perforations inthe caps 12. Transverse pins 28 in the tail-pieces 27, behind the caps 12, contact with said caps and limit the forward movement of the plungers 26. The cross-bar 25 is perforated to enable the plungers 18 to pass .through said cross-bar. Thus it is seen that the primary yielding element can be moved independently of the secondary yielding element, except when both cross-bars are in contact with each other. Normally the cross-bar 17 is positioned by the springs 24 and the pins 21 and 23 some distancein advance of the cross-bar 25. Projecting forwardly from the outer side of each plunger 26 and extending through the slot 8 in its casing 7 are pins 29. Each pin 29 is adjacent to onel of the pins 16. On each side of the appliance opposite ends of a spiral spring 30 are attached to each pin 16 and the next adjacent pin 29, respectively. A spiral spring 31 encircles each tail-piece 27 within the housing 13 in which said tail-piece is located, between the cap 12 on vsaid housing and a shoulder at the junction of said tailpiece with its plunger 26.

Normally the springs 30 are in contracted and the springs 31 in expandedconditions, and the plungers 26 are held in their forward position and with the cross-bar 25 some distance from the cap-plates 15, but

spaced inwardly from Vthe cross-bar 17, by Y "moana `overcome theresistancej ofv the spring'sp30 and 31, the plu-ngers 26are vactuated rearwardly in said casings as far as the aforesaid springs permit, or until ksaid second;- named cross-bar is checked by the capplates 15. Y As the plun'gers 26 move in their casings 7 the pins 16 travel in the slots 8. Naturally the resistance of vthe springs increases as the plungers 18 and 26 continue to move inwardly or rearwardly.

It is now clear that this duplex bumper, consisting as it doesp'of'primary vand secondary yieldingelements, is well adapted to take care of almost any impact which it re ceives, and to absorb the force of the same, so that the vehicle equipped with said bumper isprotectedfrom serious damage. This duplex bumper may be applied t0 the rear as well as to the front of an auto mobile, either orf both.

In order to utilize my duplex bumper as a medium for setting the vehicle brakes and stopping the engine, and for discharging `sand onto the ground in front of .the rear wheels of said vehicle, atthe time the primary yielding element of said bumper is operated, I provide safety ymechanisms or `de-k vices to cooperate withv or to be operated by the pins 23 and thetail-pieces 19 and 20.4

By employing the' safety devices in pairs the liability or possibilityeven of failurer to stop tl'iemachine almost-uponthe instant the primary yielding element is forced rear-v wardly,v by front-end collision', is reduced to the minimum. i

At`32-32 are brake rods which are con-v nected with the .brakes (not shown) of` the machine, and adapted when moved forwardly to set said brakes; at 33 and 34, respec tively, are represented wires vwhich arecone nected one with the ignition switch (not shown) and the other with thefuel-supply valve (not shown) by meansvof which the engine is controlled, and adapted when actuated-rear'wardly to throw said'switch and operate said valve to stop said engine; and at 35-35 arerepresented sand boxes, consisting in part of the portions ofthe fenders 36 over the two rear wheels (indicated by the numeral 37 of the vehicle, and partially supported by the running-boards 38 onboth sides `of 'said vehicle. 'Y

I will next describe in detail one of the two clutch mechanisms, which mechanismsI are elements of the safety devices, and-both ar'e alike.

Secured by bolts 39, or other means, to

the inner face ofthe vertical part of each` beam 1 is a clutch member 40. [In the center of the clutch member 40 is a recess 41 vwhich opens next to the vertical part of the beam 1 and also' opens into an axial bore in said member for a screw-threadedpin 42; There is a nut 43am the recess l41, and lthe pin 42,

after being passed through the .bore in the l clutch member 40,.is screwed into said nut, y

and is ythereby prevented from being withdrawn` from said member. The pin 42 has a shoulder to bear against the outer rim of vthe central bore in the clutchv member 40,

as shown in Fig. 4, so that said pin, when n tightened inthe nut 43, is rigidly secured tovsaid. clutehmember, and heldk against rotation therein. The pin 42 has a head 44 at the end opposite that whereon'the nut ,43

rslot and secured to said member, by means of bolts 47, is an operating 'bar 48; The pin 42 extends through thebar 48. vThe bar 48 normally stands upright, and atits upper end extends inwardly and` then downwardly to form alug 49 in which is a verticalslot 50 to receive one of the brake rods v32. Secured `to the brake rod 32 directly in front ,of the lug 4.9 is a. collar 51. Ob'u viously, when the bar 48 isrocked .on the pin 42 in the direction to swing the lug 49 forwardly, the collar 51 must be carried with, said lug and take with it the brake rod 32 `on which said collar is mounted. "lheV bar 48 at the bottom .extends outwardly and then upwardly to form `a lug 49 vrwhich is ldirectly behindthe pin 23in theadjacent plungers 18. The lug 49 is retained rin con:

tact with the pin 23, and said lug yandthe l I bar'48 with the lug 49 are maintained normally in an approximately vertical position, by means of a spiral spring 52 that has one end attached to said bar near the lug 49 and the otherend. attached to ar pin 53' that prof jects inwardlyv fromthe adjacentbeam 1,

'behind said bar.

The wires 33 and 34 have their rear terminals attached to thc bars 48 below theA pins 42, and said wires are drawn rearwardly when saidbar is rocked by the plungers 18 through the medium of the pins 23.

A springy 54 is interposed between the head 44 and a washer 55 mounted on the pin 42 and spanning the slot 46, and tends tov force the movable clutch member 45, laterally cn said pin toward the fixed clutch member 40,

and to retain the clutch-member teeth in engagement with each other. f

VSupported from the chassis, as byy .a bracket. 56 that extends inwardly from one of thevbeams l into the center of the space between the two pairs of clutch members, is an arm y57. The ,arm A57 is pivotal-ly` connected'in the center, as at 58 witlrthe inner 'end of the bracket'56. A-dfraw or pull cord or wire 59, having terminals 60 which are .Y

attached" to onevof the movablleclutch memr` bers 45 in front of and behind the pin 42 on which said member is mounted, at points in dicated by the numeral 61, extends inwardly to one terminal of the arm 57 where said wire is made tast, and then the cord continuesl outwardly beneath one of the running-boards 38, a ring 62 being attached to the outermost end of said cord. There are two ot these wires, and they are attached to opposite ends ot the arm 57, and have branches at their inner termin als attached to the two movable clutch members 45, pass outwardly under the ruiming-boards 38, and are equipped at their inner ends with rings 62. Consequently, if either of the wir-es 59 be pulled outwardly by means et ring 62, the clutch member 45 with which said wire is directly connected is drawn inwardly on its pin 42, against the resiliency of its spring 54, and can thus be moved to disengage the teeth on said member .from the teeth on the associated fixed clutch member 40, and at the same time the other movable clutch member is actuated by the other wire 59 to disengage the teeth on said secondnamed movable clutch member from the teeth on the associated fixed clutch member. The second clutch member 45 is indirectly actuated by the wire 59 pulled by the operator, through the medium of the arm 57, to which both pull wires are attached, and the second wire, the latter beingcaused to exert a pull in. the opposite direction and carry with it said second clutch member.

Atter the bars 48 have been actuated by the plunger pins 23 to set the brakes and stop the engine, operations which will presently be more fully explained., said bars must be reset, and this work is done by pulling either of the wires 59 outwardly and in the manner just explain-ed. 1t will be noted that the rings 62 are accessible only from the ground, usually, therefore, the operator must leave the car before he can start it again, after the cross-bar 17 has received an impact that forces the same and the plungers 18 inwardly far enough to cause the safety devices to operate.

Upon the rearward movement of the plungers 18 the pins 23 in the plunger tailpieces 19 and 20, which pins are in front oi the lugs 49', torce said lug rearwardly, and thus cause the bars 48 to rock on their pins 42 and carry 'forward theV lugs 49, against the resiliency of the springs 55, with the result that the brake rods 82 are operated to set the brakes, and the wires 88 and 84 are operated to stop the engine. When the bars 48 are rocked on the pins 42 in the manner just explained, they carry with them the clutch members 45, and, owing to the relative arrangement of the clutch-member teeth, and the'tact that the clutch members 40 are held against rotation, said first-named clutch members are forced inwardly on said pins,`against the resiliency of the springs 54, the teeth of the movable clutch members then riding over the teeth ofthe iixed clutch members. Thevslrots 50 in the lugs 49 are large enough to permit the bars 48 to move inwardly and outwardly, with the clutch members 45, without interference from the brake rods 32.

At the end or" the operations just described, the bars 48 are disposed obliquely and held in such position by the now inter- Ineshing clutch-member teeth, and it is necessary to reset said bars, or to restore them to an approximately upright position. To reset the .bars 48, one of the wires 59 is drawn outwardly, with the result that both clutch members 45 are actuated inwardlyV until the two sets of clutch-member teeth clear each other, when the springs 55. cause the bars 48 and the clutch members 45 to bel partially rotated on the pins 42 in the opposite direction to that in which said bars and clutch members were partially rotated by the action ot lthe inwardly. movingy plungers 18.

Vvhen the bars 48 are once more erect and the lugs 49 strike the pms 23, it being assumed Each sand box comprises a portion of one of the vtenders 36, an arcuate wall 63 which extends downwardly and vforwardly from the top ont said fender tothe adjacent running-board 38, a iioor 64 thatinclines downwardly and rearwardly from .said wall, side walls 65 65, and a verticalpartition 66 that extends downwardly' from said rst-named wall to within a short distance from said floor adjacent to therrear edge thereof, a slot or opening 67 being lett between said floor and the bottom edge of said partition. In the wall 63 is an opening 68 for the introduction of sand into the box 35, and a door 69 is provided for said opening. A slide 70 is arranged to move up and down in guide flanges 71-71 on the back side of the partition 6.6, and is spring 72, said opening is uncovered and the sand in the .box 35 permitted torun out throughfthis lopening and throughva. slot ory opening in thebottombf the fender 36 back ofl the running-board 38,-'7onto theV ground in -front of ythe wheelv 37 behind; The inclination of the floor 64 facilitates the escape of the-,sand whenthejslide 70 is elevated..

x The vslides 70,.for the two boxes 35,4*arel raised l-to permit the sand to escape from said boxes, each time the plungers, 18 are.y

actuated rearwardly rand the safety devices are Voperated by saidlplungers to set .the

brakes and stop the engine, 4through the `medium of the mechanism described below. A transverse 4rock shaft .76 is journaled inthe beams 1, andsecured to opposite terminals of' said/shaft outside of said beams are -an arm 77 and a bell-crank-lever 78,

s respectively.` Thearm 77 and the long, arm of the bellcra'nklever and rearwardly from the shaft 76, and a cord 79 connects each of these members with lonefof'fthe slides 70. Each. cord'79 has one terminal attached to 'thearm 77 orthe bellcrank-lever 78,' as thecasegmay beextends rearwardly over anidler V80 .mounted on ay stud 81 carriedY bya bracket 82gsecure'd to' the inner' side 65fof the associated boxr 35, outwardly over an idler 83 mounted'fon a stud 84 ywhich projects rearwardly from the partition 66, and downwardly. to' have the opposite terminal attached to the eye-` bolt 7 4.

obviously, if ,the Shaft 476 bei-cred ai" the direction to carry the arm 771 and the long arm. of the bell-crank-lever `78 downwardly,`the slides 70 Vare Vraised in their.. guide flanges 71 and 'thusf,opened, against the resiliency of the springs 72, through the medium of the cords7 9, and then, upon the release of said 'sha-ft, said y,springs act immediatelyto lower and thus close said slides. l A supported block 85 is secured to the 'beam 1 which is adjacent4 thebell-crankleverv 78they left-hand beam in the present example, said block having anv inwardlyextending-flanges E36-that isbolted atf87`to the under side of said beam. Mounted ,onfanda secured to the top of the block `85.9is .1a bracket 88 in which is journaled a short, transverse, .rock shaft 89.v Rigidlysecured to opposite terminalsV of the shaft' 89 are.

arms 90 and 91, respectively, the formerfextendingrearwardly, and the latter down vco wardly and forwardly to be pivotally connected at 92 with the rear end of the tail-- piece 20. Therarm 90 extends overthe top l of the block 85, and `has pivotallyconnected therewith at 93 a vertical plunger 94. Slots 95 and96 are provided inthearms 90 and? 91, respectively, toreceive thefpivots 92and l93, respectively, andaffordthe lost-motion;

7 8: extend upwardly or play incident'to orbnecessary for the operation of thefparts: There is a vlunghy y tudinal, horizontal passage 97 ,through fthe block- 85, and alsoy avertical passage 98 in saidblock, which lastfnamed passage .extends froin the top yof said block down to said .first-named' passage.y A perforated screw-cap 99.,is inserted in the top of the. passage 98,fwhich passage is constructed nea-r its ylower end. to `form la shoulder lon which is receivedfa flange' 100 on the plunger 94. 'The plunger 94 extends down" l the passages98, andnormally projectsinto the passage 97. A spring 101 isinterposed Vbetween the fflange y and the screw-cap 99, and this springY normally retains ythe plunger 94 with its lower terminal in the.

ythrough the screwfcap 99 intoandthrough passage 97 and the flange 100. on vthe aforesaid shoulder.V l

The inward movement of the plungers 18 which is provided with the` tail-piece 20 causes` the "plungers y94: to be elevated,

against the resiliency "of the spring 101,

flange 100 comes to rest on the shoulder-at" Y the bottom of' the enlarged part of they passage' 98.

A' chain, wire, or cord 102 hasfone ter-f.

minal attached to the plunger 94, and affords kmeans for elevating saidplunger. by

hand. Actually the cord 102 extendshtoa positionk where -it can be readily grasped and pulled by the hand of the operator.

An operating rod l03-extends lthrough the;

passage 97 in the block 85, wherein said rod is slidinglyfarranged and through a bracket 104 secured to the'outer 'face of' the left-'1 hand-beam 1` The rod 103 is in the same Vhorizontal plane witlilthe tailfpiece 20, and atthe' forward terminal'. said rod -3 extends along the outer or left-hand side iof said tail-piece, but does not touchfthe same. The

'forward terminal of the rod y103 is screwthreaded to'receivev anut 105. The rod y103 is provided with a'cone-shaped flange 106, within the passage 97, and said passage has therein av part vshaped to form -a seat `for said'flange and-thereby limit the forward"v v movement of the vrod 103,` inasmuch as the rear inwardly from the flange tapers l (toward its `axis)v f and forwardly. lThe parts and members are iso constructed s and arranged than/when the flange 106 is ony its seat,normally the lower terminal ofthe plungerl 94is down'behindsaid flange,and d v thusy prevents thel flange and the rod 103 from moving rearwardly. A cap-plate 107 is bolted or otherwise secured'to the back vside ofthe block-85 V over .the corresponding v109 encircles said rod between said collar and the cap-plate 107. The spring 109 thus has a constant tendency to force the rod 103 rearwardly. The short arm of the bellcrank-lever 78 has a longitudinal slot 110 therein, and a pivot 111 passes-through said slot and the rear end of the rod 103, thus pivotally connecting the latter with t-lie bell-crank-lever. i i

Upon the release of the conical flange 106 from the plunger 94, the spring 109 acts to force the rod 103 rearwardly, and thereby, through the vmedium ofthe short arm of the bell-crank-lever 78, torock said bell-cranklever, the shaft 76, and the arm 77, in the direction to open the sandboxes 35, then a resetting lever 112 is operatedto move the rod 103 forwardly again. l

The lever 112 is pivotally supported at 113 from a bracket 1111 that is secured to the front side of the block 85. The lower terminal of the lever 112 is slotted, as at 115, to set over the rod 103 behind the nut 105, and enable said lever to be oscillated in operative position relative to said rod. A spring 116 has one terminal attached to the block and the other terminal attached to the bottom of thelever 112, and normally retains said lever with its forked terminal against the front end of a loose sleeve 117 mounted on the rod 103 in front of said block. When the lever 112 is held by the spring 116 against the sleeve 117, said lever is in an approximately vertical, position. The upper terminal of the lever 112 is in position to be grasped by the hand of the operator. f

Upon tripping` the rod 103, said rod moves rearwardly until the nut 105 contacts with the forked terminalof the lever 112. Then, upon grasping the handle of the lever 112 and rocking said lever to move its forked terminal forwardly, the rod 103 is moved in the same direction, against the resiliency of the spring 109, by the Contact of the forked terminal of said lever with the nut 1.05. The rod 103 is thus moved forwardly until the conical flange 106 arrives atits scat. During this movement the flange 106 4actuales the plunger 941 upwardly, against the resiliency of the spring 101, but, as soon as said iange is seated, said spring causes said plunger to `descend behind the flange and lock the rod 103 in its forward position, with the spring 109 under tension. As soon as the lever 112 is released, the spring 116 rocks said lever in the direction to carry the lower terminal thereof back against the sleeve 117.

Any adjustment that may be required for resetting the rod-103 can be obtained byscr'ewing the nut 105 forwardly or rear-V wardly on said rod.

The rod 103, when tripped by means of' Y l. In a'bumper of the class described, primary and secondary elements kconsisting'.inv

part of two pairs of members arranged side by side, with those in one pair separate from those in the other pair, and those in either pair capable of movement in `both directions Without moving those in the remaining pair, the construction and arrangement of said elements beingl such that said primary element has a certain amount of independent movement before said secondary element is actuated, afterwhich said primary element actuates Said secondary element.

2. The combination, in a bumper of the class described, with casings adapted 'to be attached to a chassis, of plungeis slidingly arranged in said easings and provided at their outer ends with a cross-bar, springs arranged normally to retain said plungers in advanced position, other plungersl slidHr ingly arranged in said casings, each of said second-named plungers being alongside of one of said'first-named plungers and separate therefrom, and said second-named plungers being provided at their outer ends with a cross-bar, and springs adapted nor,- mally to retain said second-named plungers in advanced position, the force exerted by the springs for said firstniamed plungers Vbeing less than that exerted by the springs for said second-named plungeis. ,Y

3. The combination, in a bumper of the class described, with a brake rod, a easing carried by a chassis, and an outwardly springpressed plunger extending through said casing and having a projecting part, of a 'fined clutch member carried by said chassis, a a headed axial member supported by said clutch member, a movable clutch member mounted on said axial member, said clutch members having interengaging teeth, a spring interposed between said movable clutch member and the head of said axial member, a bar secured to said movable chit-ch member, and having a lug in the path of said proj ect` ing part, and a lug adapted to operate said brake rod, and yielding means normally toretain said bar with said first-named lugv in operative position relative to saidprojeet-l ing part. f

and desire to 'can 4. The combination, ina bumperfofthe -class described,rwith a brake rod,'a casing carried by a chassis, a headed axial member supported by said clutch member., a movablel i clutch member mounted on said axial'mem ber, said clutch kmembers having interengaging teeth, a spring interposed betweeny said c movable clutch member 'and the head voffsaid axial member', a bar secured to said.v movable' clutch membeigiand having a lug in thev path of said projecting part, and. alu'g 'adapted to operate said brake-rod,yieldng v means normally to retain said bar with'said tov irst-named lug in .operative position relative to said projecting part, andfhand-operated means to actuate `said lmovable `clutch member, againstthev resilency of its spring,

part, of a' iixed clutch member carried' byvr Y said chassis,fa headed axial' member sup-- ported by said clutch ymember, a `movable clutch member mounted on said axial member, said clutch members having interengag-f ing'teeth, a spring interposed between lsaid movable .clutch member` andthe head of said axial member, a bar secured to said movable clutch member', and having a lugin the path of said projec-ting part, yielding means normally `to retain said bar with said lug in operative position relative to said projectling part, said bar being connected `withsaidengine-'stoppingmember, and hand operated y means to actuate said movable clutch-mem ber, against the resilency of its spring,.to disengage its vteeth from the teeth ofsaid ixedclutch member, whereby the movable clutch member is released tosaid-'yielding means for Vsaid ban? l i 6. The combination, in a bumper ofthe class described, ,withI enginfestopping niem-v beis, casings cairied'by a chassis, and 'outwardly spring-pressed lungers extending' through said casings an having projecting parts, of lixed clutch members secured lto said chassis,"headed vaxial members supported by said clutch members, movable clutch members mounted von 4said axialmembers, said fixed and :movable clutchmembcrs having interengag'ing teeth, springs interposed between saidmovable clutch members andthefheads of said axial members, bars secured to said Vmovablek clutch members,

and having lugs'in'the paths of saidfpioiy jecting parts, yielding means normally'y to retain said bars withsaid lugs in operativev position relative ,tok said projecting parts,

said bars being engaged with lsaid engineyielding stopping` members, i andl hand operatedineans vto aetuatey said movable clutchniemberg:

against `the resiliency 'of their springs, to

disengage their teeth vfrom the teethof said 4,fixed clutch-members, whereby the movable` A"clutch members are released to said .yielding means for said bars. Y v

7. The combination, yin aubum er of the i class described, with f brake ro s, enginestopping-'members, casings carried'y by a chassis, and outwardly spring-pressed plungers extending through said casings and have ing Aprojecting arts, of vfixed clutcl'ixmemb'ers carried by sai chassis, headed'l'axial'jmemberssupported by said clutch members, movablel clutch members "mounted on' said axial members, lsaid fixed and movable clutch members yhaving interengaging "teeth,

springs interposedV between`-saidV movable clutch members and the 'heads of said a'Xia-lmembers, bars y'secured to said clutch members and having-lugs in the paths-of said projectingparts, andlugs adaptedy to" operate said brake rods, yielding means noi'- mally to retain said lba'Jrs-wvitli said Afirstnamedlugsin operative position relative to said projecting parts, said bars being connected with said engine-stopping members, and'hand operated means tovact'uate said movable clutch members, against the resili-V ency of'their springs, to'disengage `their teeth from" the teeth yof said fixed clutch members, whereby theinovable clutch members are released to said yielding means for said bars.` c 5 8.' The combinatiomin a bumper ofthe 'class described, with casings carried by a.

chassis, and outwardly spring-pressed plungj ersextending through;` said rcasings .and "having projecting parts, of fixed clutch membersV carried 'by said chassis, headed axial members supportedy by said clutch' members,

movable clutch members mounted on said axial members, saidfclutchfmembers having interengaging teeth, springs interposed between saidmovable clutch' members andthe heads kof said axial.` members, bars; secured tosaid movable clutchv'members, and having lugs in the pathsvoffsaid projecting parts, yielding means norma-llyvto retain said bars with said lugs in operative positionrelativev to said projecting parts, a suitably lmounted y lever, and pull membersconnected with opn posite `terminalsotl said lever, and' each of Y f said pull membershaving one terminal connected with one of said movable clutch members, and the other terminal extending bel neatli thechassis to a point on the other side, whereby, Wheneither of said pull niembers is actuated,`, both'movable clutch members are actuated inwardly, against ther resiliency of theirKA springs, on .said l'pins, 'to' disengage the c'lutchmember teeth, and 4releasel the movable clutch members yieldingmeans for the bars.

rmembeis, means between said members and said tiret-named lmeans to open the same when said members are actuated in one direction, and means to actuate said shaft' from said plunger. l

10. The combination, in a bumper of the class described, with sand boxes located forward of the rear wheels of an automobile, and equipped `with opening and closing` means, of a casing carried by the chassis of said automobile, an outwardly springpressed plunger extendii'igthrough said cas-k ing, a rock shaft carried by said chassis, sait shaft being provided with Vprojecting members, means between said members and said first-named means to open the latter when said members are actuated in one direction, means to actuate said shaft from said plungers, and means to operate saidsecond-named means by hand.

11. The combination, in a bumper of the class described, with sand boxes located 'torward of the rear wheels of an automobile, and provided with movable closures, of a casing carried by the chassis of an automobile, an outwardly spring-pressed plunger extending through said casing, a rock shaft carried by said chassis, an armvmounted on said shaft, a member connecting one of said closures with said arm, a bell-cranlr-lever also mounted on said shaft, a member connecting the other of said closures with' said bell-cranlr-lever, a block carried by said chassis, a rock shaft supported from said block and provided with arms, one of said last-named arms being pivotally connected with said plunger, an inwardly springpressed plunger slidingly arranged in said block and pivotally connected with the other of' said last-named arms, a spring-pressed rod extending through said block and provided with a flange into the path of which said last-named plunger normally extends, said rod being pivotally connected with. said bellci'anl-lever. v

l2. The combination, in al bumper of the class (lescribed, with sand boxes located forward of the rear wheels of any automobile, and provided with movable closures, of a y casing carried by the chassis of an automobile, an outwardly spring-pressed plunger extending through said casing, a rock shaft ia'rried by said chassis, an arm mounted on said shaft, a member connecting one of said closures with said arm, a bell-cranlr-lever also mounted on said shaft, a member connecting the other of said closures with said bell-crank-lever, a block carried by said chassis,ga rock shaft supported from said block and provided with arms, one of said last-named arms being pi'votally connected with said plunger, anv inwardly spring'- piessed plunger slidmgly arranged in said block and pivotally connected with the other` nected with said bell-crank-lever.

13. The combination, in a bumper of'th class described, withV a casing carried by the chassis of an automobile, an outwardly spring-pressed plunger in said casing, and sand boxes located forward of the rear wheels of said automobile, and provided with closures, of a rock shaft supported by said chassis, an arn'rmounted on lsaid shaft, a member connecting one of said closures with said arm, v a bell-crank-lever also mounted on said shaft, a member connecting the other of said closures with vsaid bellcrank-lever, a spring-pressed rod supported from said chassis and connected with said bell-crank-lever, meansr to4 hold said rod with its spring' under tension, and tripping means for saidrod, which means is capable of being operated either by said plunger or y by hand,

14. The combinatiom'in a bumpeiof the class described, with sand boxes located forward of the rear Wheels of an automobile,

and provided with closures, of a casing carriedby the chassis of said automobile, `an outwardly spring-pressed plunger .in said casing, a rock shaft supported by said chassis, an arm mounted on saidl shaft, a memAv ber connecting one of said closuresV with said arm, a bell-cranl-lever mounted on said shaft, a member connectingthe other of said closures withr said bell-crank-lever, a block carried by said chassis, a rock shaft supported from said vblock and provided with arms, one of said lastfnamedarms being pivotally connected with saidplunger, a spring-pressed plunger in said block and pivotally connected' with the other of said last-named arms, a spring-pressed rod ,ex-,

tending through said block and provided with a flange into the path of which said last-named plunger normally extends, said rod being pivotally connected with saidv bell-crank-lever, and hand-operated re setting means for said rod. v

l5. The combination, in a bumper of the class described, with a casing carried by the chasis of an automobile, an outwardly spring-pressed plunger in said casing, and.

sand boxes located forward of the rear Wheels of said automobile, and Aprovided with closures, of a rock shaft supportednby iis said casing, an arm mountedon said shaft, a member connecting one of said closures with said arm, a bell-crank-lever also mounted on said shaft, e member connecting the other of said closures with said 'be11" crank-1ever, asprlng-pressed plunger 1n said n block and pivotally vconnected With the other or said last-named 'ai-ms, ev springfpressed rod extending through said block and ro,r 10 vided with a ange into the path of vWlriich f said lest-named plunger normaly i extends, f said rod being pivotally connecte belllorank-leverL a projecting member on to engage ate sai spring.

:GAETANO Meno.

with said 

